A court in Taiwan has sentenced former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je to 17 years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption and misuse of political donations.

Ko, 65, was accused of accepting more than NT$17.1 million ($535,000; £400,000) in bribes linked to a real estate deal during his time in office, as well as misreporting campaign finances during his 2024 presidential run. Prosecutors had initially sought a sentence exceeding 28 years.

The former mayor, who founded the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Party chairman Huang Kuo-chang previously described the charges as politically motivated.

Ko was arrested in 2024 but had been released on bail since September. His conviction marks a dramatic turn for a figure once seen as a rising force in Taiwanese politics.

In the 2024 presidential election, Ko emerged as a strong third-party contender, securing more than 25% of the vote. He finished behind Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who won with about 40%.

Ko built his political identity as an alternative to Taiwan’s two dominant parties, often criticising the DPP for heightening tensions with China, while also accusing the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) of being overly accommodating toward Beijing.

Despite finishing third, analysts viewed his strong electoral performance as evidence of growing public appetite for a more pluralistic political landscape.

His arrest and trial have sparked protests among supporters, who allege the case is politically driven. Some backers have vowed to continue supporting him and push for what they describe as justice, even after the court’s ruling.

Before the verdict, Ko had indicated plans to remain active in politics and potentially run again in the 2028 presidential election.

Former Australian Football League (AFL) player Leigh Ryswyk has publicly come out as gay, becoming the first man linked to the competition to do so.

Ryswyk, who played a single AFL match for the Brisbane Lions in 2005 before injuries ended his top-level career, later went on to play more than 220 games for North Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian league.

Speaking in a radio interview, the 41-year-old revealed he has been openly gay among close friends for around five years and recently shared the news publicly. He said both of his parents responded with strong support when he came out to them.

His announcement follows that of Mitch Brown, who in 2025 became the first AFL player to come out as bisexual after retiring from a career that included time with the West Coast Eagles. Until then, the AFL had been notable among major men’s professional sports leagues for never having an openly gay or bisexual player, even post-retirement.

Ryswyk expressed optimism that the sporting environment has evolved and would be supportive of any current player choosing to come out.

“I think the AFL, and the community, will wrap their arms around that player,” he said during the interview on Melbourne-based station Joy 94.9.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Ryswyk described the emotional experience of coming out to his family, saying it took several years to find the courage. He recalled heartfelt conversations with both parents, who reassured him of their unconditional support.

Despite being open within his inner circle, Ryswyk noted that he has generally kept his private life out of the public eye until now.

Originally from Victoria, he moved to Queensland to join the Brisbane Lions and made his sole AFL appearance against Fremantle in Perth. He later built a distinguished career at state level and was inducted into the AFL Queensland Hall of Fame.

Robert Mueller, the former special counsel whose high-profile investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election shaped much of Donald Trump’s first term, has died at the age of 81.

His family confirmed that he passed away on Friday night, requesting privacy during this period. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Mueller led the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013, assuming the role just days before the September 11 attacks. During his tenure, he played a central role in transforming the bureau into a modern counterterrorism-focused agency in response to evolving global threats.

Born in 1944, Mueller studied politics at Princeton University before serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1968, where he led a platoon, sustained injuries in combat, and received several honours, including the Bronze Star for bravery.

After returning from military service, he pursued a law degree at the University of Virginia, graduating in 1973. His legal and public service career eventually culminated in his unanimous confirmation by the US Senate as FBI director in August 2001. He later retired in 2013 after serving under both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Mueller re-emerged in the national spotlight in 2017 when he was appointed special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and any potential links to Trump’s campaign. The probe, which ran from May 2017 to March 2019, dominated political discourse in Washington.

Throughout the investigation, Mueller maintained a notably low public profile, even as his team brought charges against several key Trump associates, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The final report—spanning 448 pages—documented extensive Russian efforts to influence the election but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia. It also concluded that a sitting president could not be indicted, leaving unresolved questions about potential obstruction of justice.

Trump repeatedly dismissed the inquiry as a “witch hunt” and “hoax,” viewing Mueller as a key political adversary. Following news of Mueller’s death, Trump posted a controversial reaction on his Truth Social platform.

Mueller’s legacy remains closely tied to both his leadership of the FBI during a pivotal era in US security and his role in one of the most scrutinized political investigations in modern American history.